Double His Pleasure

By MIKE BROWNReview Sports Editor Published: May 26, 2012 3:00 AM

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AUSTINTOWN -- Marlington High School's Anthony Wilks and Louisville High School's Chad Gentry joined select company after qualifying for the State Track and Field Championships at the Division I Regional finals at hot and humid Austintown-Fitch's Falcon Stadium Friday.

Wilks, who qualified for the state in the discus on Wednesday, doubled his state meet pleasure on Friday by finishing second in the regional shot put while easily adding a second Columbus qualification.

In so doing, Wilks becomes only the second male weight events thrower in Marlington history to advance to state in both weight events in the same year. He joins the great Ron Shekels, who first accomplished that feat back in 1976.

"Anthony Wilks and Ron Shekels for the boys and Lisa Evanich for the girls are the only ones who have ever made it to state in two weight events in the same year," said Marlington head coach Bob Dagenhardt. "It's really a credit to Anthony to reach that level in both events. He's really worked hard to get there, and it's really neat to see him get there."

Wilks generally regarded the discus as his best event at the start of the season but he has improved so much in the shot put that he's equally talented in both.

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Billy Price of Austintown Fitch won the regional shot put title with a throw of 58-14.

Meanwhile, Louisville's Gentry won the regional 400 meters to punch his Columbus ticket. Although Louisville has had many distance runners advance to state over the years, Gentry joins elite company as one of the few Leopard sprinters to advance to Columbus in recent years.

"It's a huge honor to be going to state, especially after getting fifth here (at the regional last year)," said Gentry. "So coming from fifth to first is a big jump. I'm sitting at the second fastest (time) in the whole state right now."

Louisville's coaches watching the race near the finish line erupted in celebration when Gentry crossed the line first.

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Wilks, who has been peaking at the right time and really seems to be at the top of his game, lauched a 56-14 throw on his final toss of the prelims.

"I want to be All-Ohio in both next week (in Columbus)," explained Wilks. "I just have to clear my head and do it."

Wilks, who is not a big person like many shot put throwers, feels his discipline to the craft of weightlifting has made a huge difference in his ability to launch big throws in the shot.

"I lift every single day," he said. "In the mornings, first period, every day, I'm working on lifting to get to something like this (two state berths)."

Dagenhardt said Marlington throwing coach Sue Neal has played a big role in Wilks' success.

"Coach Neal has really worked hard with Anthony on his footwork, and his footwork and quickness is his strength," stated the Marlington mentor. "His speed, quickness and footwork have been the key, they have really honed this down to a science and it's really been neat to see it."

Neal said Wilks' intensity level also plays a big part in his success.

"I think his intensity level," praised Neal. "No matter what sport it is, if you practice (hard) you are always going to perform better, and he practices with a lot of intensity."

For Louisville's Gentry, he ran a perfect regional 400 race, took control with more than 100 meters left and impressively held off all challengers to win the regional title.

"This was huge," said Gentry. "I've trained more in sprints this year than distance which makes my last 100 kick a lot better than it used to be."

Louisville's Mackenzie Rankin, who qualified for state as a member of the Leopards' four-by-800 relay team on Wednesday, just missed a qualification Friday in the 300 meter hurdles. She finished fifth in the event and the top four finishers in each event advanced to state.

Rankin also advanced to the finals in the girls' long jump but did not finish in the top four.

Louisville's Garrett Dasco earned a regional team point after finishing eighth in the finals of the 1600 meters.